Ken Papaleo: X Marks the Shot: Wind Farms

"X Shot"

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 200

Shutter - 1/125 sec.

F/stop - 22

Lens - 70/200 zoom

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park, in Calhan, is a very unique location. I had been there once before and wanted to check it out again. I remembered the beautiful colors but not the wind farm surrounding it. Now, I have nothing against wind energy but I do draw the line when they are built around such a fantastic location. It's still worth the visit and by using a low angle, you can get those towers out of the background, most of the time. The light is good in the morning and evening, showing off each side of the canyon. I was there on a 80 degree day, mid February, by myself!

Ken Papaleo

Colorado Photographer

kenpapaleo@highcountrycoloring.com

303-674-0615

"X Shot" information.

Camera - Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO - 125

Shutter - 1/1000 sec.

F/stop - 4

Lens - 300 mm

I haven't been to the Pawnee National Grassland for about 8 years and decided to head that way. The last visit surprised me with the finding of wind farms to the north of the Pawnee Buttes. Knowing the area I knew of a place on road 685 where you could go fare enough north to get the farm out of the horizon. Upon arriving at this site, a sign and barricade blocked my way, revegetation area. So now the only clear shots of the buttes were gone. These things are here, just like trees in the mountains. Thinking this way I started to use the towers as part of my images.